Where Are You?
Pt. 5 - Cheaper By The Dozen
I. Introduction
When we change locations we often post or send a forwarding address so that those people who are important to us will find us. But Adam's actions after falling to temptation and sin reveals that we don't always want everyone to know when our location has changed! His response to his fall was to try to hide from God. He must have not yet discovered that that is an impossible feat. God knows where we are all even when we don't. So, it would seem odd that in Genesis 3:9 God asks this question …
Text: Genesis 3:9 (NIV)
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
God knew where Adam was. The issue was Adam didn't know where he was. This simple 3 word question forced Adam to evaluate and access his own spiritual location and condition. It has forced us to do the same. We have established that we are supposed to be on a journey towards maturity. We all start at the same exact spot. There is no way to skip stops along the way. We are in one of these 4 stages of spiritual maturity. (SLIDE 3) Infant, Teen, Adult, Parent.
Each stage is a necessary part of the journey. Each stage has some characteristics about them that we need to use to evaluate where we are in this journey. There is also an essential skill that is needed in each stage that enables us to move to the next stage. Until we develop, hone and operate in that skill we cannot move forward.
Infants must learn to move to the next stage.
Teens must listen to move to the next stage.
Adults must leverage to move to the next stage.
And here is a major hurdle that must be crossed. I think most of us, if we are interested in and are intentional in maturing, often stop at adult thinking that that is the ultimate and pinnacle stage of maturity. So, we hover around that stage taking short and less frequent trips back into the previous stages. However, we never really move on into the final stage which, in my opinion, is the most needed stage currently in the body of Christ. We need people to mature to parent level for the sake of those behind them in the other three stages. I think one of the reasons we see so few people make it to parent stage is because there are so few models or examples around us of people making it to and living in this stage.
So, quickly as we have been doing let me share some of the characteristics of parents in the natural that parallel in the spiritual. These characteristics are the result of a baby coming onto the scene. Haven't you noticed that a baby changes everything?
Characteristics of Parents:
1. They don't focus on their own needs. They look out for the needs of others.
2. No longer focus on personal achievement. They want their kids to do better than they did. (Me - super competitive. Wanted to win at all cost. But then boys.)
3. They are willing to challenge and correct. Not as interested in someone's gift as they are someone's character.
4. They live differently so that they have something to leave to those coming behind. They are setting the stage for someone else's success.
5. They are willing to share wisdom.
6. They invest in someone else's dream. ?Why they pay for college. Help with first house.
7. They step aside so that others can step up. Doesn't mean they can't and don't step up. Doesn't mean they are completely out of the picture. But they make room. (Bro. Gentry - willing to take that to develop me. Julie worship)
Those are natural characteristics, but they are also spiritual. In fact, this is actually illustrated so many times in Scripture that it is almost impossible not to see it taking place. So, here are just a few examples.
Jethro - Moses.
Elijah - Elisha.
Jesus - Disciples.
Paul - Timothy.
Paul - Titus.
We have read a lot of what Paul has to say about spiritual maturity so let's listen to how he operated.
1 Corinthians 4:15-16 (NCV) ?For though you may have 10,000 teachers in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Through the Good News I became your father in Christ Jesus, so I beg you, please follow my example.
So, Paul modeled this step of spiritual maturity for us! He said you have a lot of teachers. The word there for teachers literally means "one who passes along information." Then Paul says I took a different step and became your father. The word there for father means "one who infuses his own spirit into another." That is parenting. And so that we have a correct understanding let me define parenting for you because you can be a spiritual parent regardless of your age, marital status in the natural. The verb parent doesn’t just mean to produce a child. It means to raise, care for, take care of a child.
When we graduate to this level we are actually following the ultimate example of Christ. This is how He prepared His disciples. So, now after crucifixion and resurrection He says this . . .
John 20:21-22 - I’ve taught you, now I’m empowering you. Now go do what I’ve done!
Do you learn how to do stuff from parents? Sure, but
more importantly… you learn how to Be somebody. He taught them how to be Christians - little Christs. Operating in power and authority gained by becoming who Christ parented them to become.
James Smart in The Rebirth of Ministry says, "Jesus was not satisfied in having a succession of audiences to which he might proclaim his gospel. He was interested primarily in having disciples in whom and through whom his ministry would be multiplied many times over."
Carl George: The Jesus model for changing the world is, “Recruit 12, Graduate 11.”
There are too many orphans running around who have been saved but who aren't being raised. We have relegated raising to one person in the pulpit when the truth is each mature believer has been called to recruit, raise, release. You may not give birth to them but you can raise them! It is cheaper by the dozen!
So, my question to you today is who are you raising, caring for and taking care of in the faith? What if every spiritual adult in the room recruited 12 and graduated 11? Think about what that would do, not only in our body, but in our community! Think about what happened when Jesus did this. 12 became 120. 120 became thousands. Thousands impacted not only their world but they have impacted us to this day. It isn't enough to just become mature spiritually and think I have arrived so now I can rest. You have a role to play. Look behind you!
That brings us to the skill necessary to become and remain a parent.
Parents must think LEGACY!
“Legacy is not just what we leave behind, but what we send ahead.” David Greene
One word of clarification here before I wrap this up and we pray. I want you to hear me carefully . . .
There is a difference between being an orphan and having an orphan heart which we will deal with later this year. Not having someone to father/mother you is different than not allowing someone to do that. If you choose isolation over intimacy, then you remain an infant, teen or adult with no hope of ever becoming a parent. A lot of us have orphan hearts because we won't let anyone parent us. So, as our heavenly Father raises up parents around us we must be willing to let them raise us!
What is our goal out of all of this? Why do we gather to worship? Why do we care if there are small groups? Why do we want you to serve? Why? Here is our goal!
Ephesians 4:12-15 (NLT) ?This [work] will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Prayer regardless of stage that we will move forward and not back.
